JP/5/D03

JP/5/D03

Court frees Medan terror suspect

Apriadi Gunawan
Medan

A district court here acquitted on Wednesday a terror suspect of
all charges of involvement in the 2000 church bombings on
Christmas Eve in Medan, North Sumatra.

The defendant, Awaluddin Sitorus alias Abu Yassar, 34, was not
proven to have played a role in the terror attacks, the Medan
District Court said.

Prosecutors had recommended 10 years imprisonment for
Awaluddin, charging him with violating Article 1 (1) of Emergency
Law No. 12/1951.

However, the panel of judges said there was insufficient
evidence found against the defendant after at least 19 witnesses,
presented by the prosecutors, testified before the court.

None of the witnesses admitted to having seen the suspect at
the Padang Bulan Protestant church on May 28, 2000 at the time of
the bombing, in which 36 people were injured, they added. No
fatalities were reported.

Toni Togar, another defendant in the same case who was
presented as a key witness, told a previous trial that Awaluddin
was not in Medan but on the island of Batam when the blast took
place.

Judge Binsar Gultom said the link between Awaluddin and the
church attacks was weak, as the prosecutors failed to present
four other key witnesses also accused of involvement in the
blast.

They were the alleged Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) leader Hambali,
currently being held by the United States, Faiz Bin Abubakar
Bafana, being detained in Malaysia, convicted Bali bomber Imam
Samudra and his accomplice Nasrullah who is still at large.

"The prosecutors should have been able to present the key
witnesses in the trial because Awaluddin admitted he once met
with them in Medan," Binsar said.

He said that Awaluddin also confessed to have voluntarily
helped Hambali and Imam Samudra find a rented house in Medan,

However, Binsar added, Awaluddin along with Toni and Nasrullah
had reportedly been ordered by the late Jabil Akim to bomb three
churches in Medan, including the GKPI Padang Bulan. The identity
of Jabil was not clear.

Awaluddin also admitted to having received Rp 4 million from
Faiz Bin Abubakar Bafana for transportation to gather their
accomplices for a meeting at Ibunda Hotel to discuss the riots in
Maluku province. The forum was attended by Hambali and Samudra.

Responding to the court verdict in favor of the defendant,
prosecutor Nilma Lubis said his office would appeal to a higher
court.